Admit it, you like soap operas. Go ahead and shout it out. We're all grown men and women and even though it seems silly we do enjoy our favorite soaps. We spend enthralled hours in front of the tube gripped with suspense as we watch our favorite cast of characters winding through endless twisted plots of dirty deeds. We root for our hereos and snicker with glee as the villains get what's rightfully coming to them.

Of course we're addicted and are willing to spend a huge chunk of our lives glued to the tube following other people's lives but, I mean, who couldn't resist wanting to know the outcome of plots such as this:

She pushed her half-sister out of a second-story window. She locked her husband in a so-called safe room and had his twin brother assume his life. She embezzled millions of dollars from a company she was supposed to be running. She miraculously recovered from a brain tumor. Oh, and she and her mother carried on an affair with the same man. So what's a girl supposed to for an encore?

Or:

Kendall does not appreciate Ryan's visit as she prepares to go to bed. She tells him to leave but Ryan insists on staying. Resigned, Kendall tells him to state his business and then leave. Ryan shocks her when he reveals that he wants to raise their child. Kendall promises to consider his suggestion but advises him to think long on and hard about his decision. She points out that raising the baby as a single parent is not going to be all baseball games and sleepovers. At Ryan's expression, Kendall realizes that Ryan may not be intending to raise their son alone. Kendall becomes angry when she suspects that Ryan is planning on raising the baby with Julia. She orders him out of her home but Ryan isn't quick to leave. He tells her that he has not thought that far ahead. He only knows that somewhere along the way, he has fallen in-love with their son and wants to be a part of his life. As he's talking, Kendall begins to suspect that Ryan is actually intending on raising the child with Kendall. She tries to tell him that, unlike Ryan, she does not feel very connected to the baby and has not imagined what he would look like. Ryan understands her feelings. He points out that for Kendall, the pregnancy is a reminder of Zach's betrayal and the loss of Greenlee's friendship. He is certain though that Kendall will make a wonderful mother to their son. As Ryan is talking, Kendall makes a startling revelation. The man before her is the old Ryan. The man that she fell in-love with. Ryan is a bit taken aback by Kendall's announcement and after a moment realizes that she's right. He doesn't know how he found his way back to the man he used to be but he feels at home for the first time in a long while. He admits that there are some changes but he's at peace. Kendall leans forward and gently kisses Ryan. After the kiss, Ryan admits that he wasn't expecting it. Kendall smiles softly and confesses that she kissed him on impulse. She then leans forward and softly whispers "Make love to me Ryan." Ryan hesitates a moment and then kisses Kendall.

Lily meets Jonathan at their treehouse. When she asks him what was so urgent, Jonathan announces that he wanted to celebrate. He gives Lily the wonderful news that not only did he get the job at the hospital as an orderly but that Janet was arrested which means that everyone will now know that Jonathan is innocent of all the things that had been happening lately. Lily is angry on Jonathan's behalf that Janet framed him for all those crimes. She is certain that Janet is an evil person who knew exactly what she was doing. Jonathan admits that he is no longer angry at Janet. He feels sorry for her and is certain that she really didn't know that she had done wrong. When Lily suddenly decides to leave, Jonathan becomes concerned. He asks her why. Lily explains that since they both disagree about Janet they can no longer be boyfriend and girlfriend. Jonathan becomes upset. He tells Lily that it's ok if they disagree. He loves Lily because her mind works differently from his and that it doesn't mean they have to breakup. They can just agree to disagree. Lily likes the sound of that and agrees to remain his girlfriend. Happy that they resolved the problem, Jonathan makes a toast to "Freedom Day", their special holiday celebrating Jonathan's freedom. After they toast, Lily decides to leave before Reggie realizes that she has slipped away.

Dixie's health takes a turn for the worse as she is ravaged by an infection. The doctor gives her antibiotics and fluids and then warns Zach that if she doesn't improve she may need to be admitted to a hospital. Zach sits by Dixie's bedside as she drifts in and out of delirium. During a lucid moment, Dixie talks to Zach about Kendall, urging him to try to talk to Kendall in an effort to repair their relationship. Zach feels it's a bad idea and changes the subject by offering Dixie some water. Later, during one of her delirious moments, Dixie starts talking about Katie. He asks her who Katie is and if she should get her but Dixie doesn't answer. When Dixie starts talking about Tad and needing to see him so that she can explain everything to him, Zach thinks that Dixie is lucid. After awhile, a woman helping to nurse Dixie takes her temperature and gives Dixie the good news that her fever is gone. Dixie looks around the room and asks her where Zach went.

It's a double date as Tad and Di are joined by Aidan and Erin at the bowling alley. They decide to make it a competition, ladies versus gentlemen. Confident that they will easily defeat the ladies, Aidan and Tad are surprised when the ladies end up winning the game. They go their separate ways after the game.

Aidan and Erin return to Aidan's place where they spend some time flirting and having fun. After awhile, Erin notes that she has not seen Aidan's bedroom yet. She then asks him to make love to her. Aidan smiles and begins kissing her.

At Tad's home, Di and Tad end up necking on the sofa. When things become heated, Tad tells Di that he wants to make love to her. Much to his frustration, they are interrupted by a knock at the door. It's Zach.

Or:

WASHINGTON -- The Senate on Thursday narrowly passed a $2.8 trillion budget blueprint for 2007 after disputes between moderate and conservative Republicans over spending nearly scuttled its passage.

The 51-49 vote came after Louisiana Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu decided to vote for the bill in exchange for GOP promises of billions in funding for levees and wetlands restoration in the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast region.

Vice President Dick Cheney was on Capitol Hill to break a tie vote if needed.

But congressional aides predict the budget resolution will hit a roadblock in the House of Representatives, where conservatives have vowed to cut spending considerably.

The Senate made big changes to the original budget proposed by President Bush for the fiscal year that begins October 1. Among them, the Senate dropped plans to curb Medicare spending and canceled plans to extend certain tax cuts.

The Senate also added funding for a host of programs, including $7 billion for health and education programs championed by Sen. Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican.

But conservative Republicans balked at supporting the budget when the price tag crashed through the $873 billion cap in discretionary spending proposed by the White House.

To pick up votes, GOP leaders were forced to negotiate with moderate Democrats like Landrieu and Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska. Nelson voted against the measure.

Because the budget resolution is nonbinding, Congress can still pass its spending bills without it. But getting both chambers to agree on a blueprint makes the process easier. Also, not passing one is seen by many as embarrassing for the Republicans, who control both the House and Senate.

The Senate resolution authorizes oil drilling in part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, but that provision won't go into effect unless a final budget compromise is reached with the House.

The Senate vote came on the same day the House gave final approval to a nearly $92 billion supplemental spending bill for hurricane relief and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Democrats complained that that money, while necessary, is not accounted for in the budget blueprint and that it should be.

Also Thursday, the Senate voted to raise the national debt ceiling to nearly $9 trillion from $8.2 trillion.

That vote drew criticism from Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid.

"When it comes to deficits, this president owns all the records. The three largest deficits in our nation's history have all occurred under this administration's watch," the Nevada Democrat told the Senate, according to prepared remarks on his Web site.

Cast that vote for your favorite soap!

Good to see that you are living up to your promise of shaking things up in Bedlam, by using an un-moderated forum to ask the highly controversial question of what soap opera you like!

Just a couple of things, I don't think that Desperated Housewives is a soap - infact, when I think about it I'm pretty sure.

Secondly, what about the rest of the English speaking world: Uk, Coronation Street, Eastenders, Emmerdale. Oz: Neighbours, Home and Away. NZ, Portland Street.

Can a mod add these soaps too, then I can vote!

I stopped watching soaps after JR got shot so Dallas got my vote.

If you include Life as an option I might go with that one.

Soaps,SOAPS...........................Coronation Street, Emmerdale,Eastenders,Eldorado, Crossroads are/were soaps. You poll was about <deleted>.

Soaps,SOAPS...........................Coronation Street, Emmerdale,Eastenders,Eldorado, Crossroads are/were soaps. You poll was about <deleted>.

Excuse my wordly ignorance and unforgivable bias.

That is all American shit. This is the internet, available across the globe. WAKE UP

The longest running soap opera in the world is my favourite, Coronation Street.

Soaps,SOAPS...........................Coronation Street, Emmerdale,Eastenders,Eldorado, Crossroads are/were soaps. You poll was about <deleted>.

Excuse my wordly ignorance and unforgivable bias.

Excused...............don't let it happen again.

Soaps,SOAPS...........................Coronation Street, Emmerdale,Eastenders,Eldorado, Crossroads are/were soaps. You poll was about <deleted>.

Yes, Coro Street etc are indeed shitty soaps.Anybody caught watching them should be hung drawn and quartered for being a tool.

Theres only one soiap worth watching and thats the Bill

Soaps,SOAPS...........................Coronation Street, Emmerdale,Eastenders,Eldorado, Crossroads are/were soaps. You poll was about <deleted>.

Yes, Coro Street etc are indeed shitty soaps.Anybody caught watching them should be hung drawn and quartered for being a tool.

TV's fukcing boring, anyway.

TV's not so bad, though.

That is all American shit. This is the internet, available across the globe. WAKE UP

The longest running soap opera in the world is my favourite, Coronation Street.

U.S. Politics is the soap opera watched all over the globe.

ThaiVisa is my favourite soap opera..

All those American soaps suck big-time.

I used to watch Thai soaps with the missus for language instruction but they got so danm slow, haven't watched them for years.

The Taksin Show on ASTV1 right now is my 'soap' of choice...

I loved Dark Shadows, the soap opera about vampires and things that go bump in the night in about 1966. Haven't liked one since though!

Hmmm obviously this is slanted towards yanks!!!

Hmmm obviously this is slanted towards yanks!!!

Can't say that I've liked any Aussie soap operas, but I like that show "Beauties and the Beast" where a typical Aussie bloke argues with feminists every day!

Bedlam is my favourite soap.

I wouldn't waste a minute watching any of that other drivel. I'd rather stick toothpicks in my eye-lids and watch....ugh...Pro Wrestling

Here we have such interesting characters, like Boon Mee and Butterfly, Spee and Suegha and many others.

Unlike most of the garbage in the poll, we even had TITS once upon a time !

We have single women looking to get hitched. Earth-shaking discussions on the origins of......the earth. Politics, drama, humour, cartoons and user (or is that useless ?) polls !

What more could you ask for ?

Turn off your TVs and log in to...........TV !

It's all you really need.

(The preceeding rant was an unprofessional, unsolicited, unpaid for, and unnecessary post)

There has only ever been one soap, and that is "Soap".

The beginning, the middle and the end of all soaps.

This brilliant show is the best TV show ever produced in the US.

Great script, superb actors and wonderful self-irony.

All ignorant, who watch present day soaps, should be forced to drink a case of Carlsberg and watch every episode of "Soap".

Their addiction will be cured.

Deadwood.

How they got away with this I don't know.

Deadwood.

How they got away with this I don't know.

It was quite startling when you first started to watch it

Deadwood.

How they got away with this I don't know.

Brilliant western - co*ksucker said every other word. Fking hilarious.

U.S. Politics is the soap opera watched all over the globe.

I wouldn't use the word 'watched', I would say more like cringed at

Good to see that you are living up to your promise of shaking things up in Bedlam, by using an un-moderated forum to ask the highly controversial question of what soap opera you like!

Just a couple of things, I don't think that Desperated Housewives is a soap - infact, when I think about it I'm pretty sure.

Secondly, what about the rest of the English speaking world: Uk, Coronation Street, Eastenders, Emmerdale. Oz: Neighbours, Home and Away. NZ, Portland Street.

Can a mod add these soaps too, then I can vote!

Agreed with Dan sai.. Nothing on there I´d vote for at the moment.

Well, I guess the satire of my poll escaped everyone. Perhaps not completely but no one has commented on why U.S. politics is lumped in among the bona fide soaps. Since my automatic admission to the looney ward of TV I've read of the endless comments about the endless political discussions. And since I equate politics with soaps I couldn't help but have some fun.

Though it could be said that politics are more 'real' than soaps, to me politicians are little more than sad caricatures of human beings, wrapped up in their own private worlds of self promotion, egocentricity and general deceit. Clowns in business suits wielding imaginary power. Hollywood with different persuasions. Tales of their exploits are as bizzare and ludicrous as any twisted soap opera plot could ever hope for. The stories are so repetative and worn out that there's no longer any novelty to them. Same same - different date, different place, different characters - but always predictable and unamusing. Maybe people like them for their shock appeal; how could anyone be so blantantly stupid? Their antics never cease to boogle the mind.

Why people are wiling to spend what otherwise could be quality time to engage in constant debate and analysis of events that may as well exist in another world from where you stand and which most will never effect on a personal level is sometimes beyond me. Most politicians aren't worthy of the tiniest slice of my attention.

There you have it.

Boy, do I sound like an retarded arse-hole or what???? Have at me, boys and girls.

BTW, I hate soaps. Worthless <deleted>. Except for Dark Shadows (which I voted for). But I was too young to understand soaps and only got off on the vampire aspect of it. Barnaby Jones was a lovable bite. Did he ever 'get' his girl?

The Cars - Shake It Up

Dance all night, play all day

Don't let nothing get in the way

Dance all night, keep the beat

Don't you worry 'bout two left feet

Just shake it up

Dance all night, get real loose

You don't need no bad excuse

Dance all night with anyone

Don't let nobody pick your fun

Just shake it up

Dance all night, go, go, go

Dance all night, get real slow

Go all night, get real hot

Shake it up until you pop

Dance all night, whirl your hair

Make the night cats stop and stare

Dance all night, go to work

Do the move with the quirky jerk

Just shake it up

Edit: Well, Dan Sai Kid, now did I live up to my claim of shaking it up? At least I provided the appropriate lyrics. Let's see if there's anyone home to rouse from their slumbers. Bedlam seems to be a deserted institution most of the time. Out fishin' or drugged up?? You'll know where to find me.

That ain't nurse Ratched, BTW.

Hmmm obviously this is slanted towards yanks!!!

Can't say that I've liked any Aussie soap operas, but I like that show "Beauties and the Beast" where a typical Aussie bloke argues with feminists every day!

I agree with that being the best show in Oz, next to The Footy Show. (The Melbourne one, not that other pansy show from Sydney).

btw... It's Shortland Street, not Portland Street.

cv

Soap should be kept in the kitchen and bathroom, and certain massage parlours

Operas should be confined to tiny, obscure little theatres where the general public never has to know about them.

Soap and Operas should never, ever be combined ! It makes the head ache and the stomache churn

I loved Dark Shadows, the soap opera about vampires and things that go bump in the night in about 1966. Haven't liked one since though!

Was that you who cast the second vote for Dark Shadows, UG? Did Barnabas Collins ever get his girl? I can't remember much. In fact, I originally confused his name with the name of the 70's prime time series Barnaby Jones, who was played by Buddy Ebsen of Jed Clampett fame.

Did Barnabas Collins ever get his girl? I can't remember much.

Between discovering drugs and getting sent away to reform school around that time, Barnabas Collin's love life seems to have escaped my attention.

Well, I guess the satire of my poll escaped everyone. Perhaps not completely but no one has commented on why U.S. politics is lumped in among the bona fide soaps. Since my automatic admission to the looney ward of TV I've read of the endless comments about the endless political discussions. And since I equate politics with soaps I couldn't help but have some fun.

Though it could be said that politics are more 'real' than soaps, to me politicians are little more than sad caricatures of human beings, wrapped up in their own private worlds of self promotion, egocentricity and general deceit. Clowns in business suits wielding imaginary power. Hollywood with different persuasions. Tales of their exploits are as bizzare and ludicrous as any twisted soap opera plot could ever hope for. The stories are so repetative and worn out that there's no longer any novelty to them. Same same - different date, different place, different characters - but always predictable and unamusing. Maybe people like them for their shock appeal; how could anyone be so blantantly stupid? Their antics never cease to boogle the mind.

Why people are wiling to spend what otherwise could be quality time to engage in constant debate and analysis of events that may as well exist in another world from where you stand and which most will never effect on a personal level is sometimes beyond me. Most politicians aren't worthy of the tiniest slice of my attention.

There you have it.

Boy, do I sound like an retarded arse-hole or what???? Have at me, boys and girls.

BTW, I hate soaps. Worthless <deleted>. Except for Dark Shadows (which I voted for). But I was too young to understand soaps and only got off on the vampire aspect of it. Barnaby Jones was a lovable bite. Did he ever 'get' his girl?

The Cars - Shake It Up

Dance all night, play all day

Don't let nothing get in the way

Dance all night, keep the beat

Don't you worry 'bout two left feet

Just shake it up

Dance all night, get real loose

You don't need no bad excuse

Dance all night with anyone

Don't let nobody pick your fun

Just shake it up

Dance all night, go, go, go

Dance all night, get real slow

Go all night, get real hot

Shake it up until you pop

Dance all night, whirl your hair

Make the night cats stop and stare

Dance all night, go to work

Do the move with the quirky jerk

Just shake it up

Edit: Well, Dan Sai Kid, now did I live up to my claim of shaking it up? At least I provided the appropriate lyrics. Let's see if there's anyone home to rouse from their slumbers. Bedlam seems to be a deserted institution most of the time. Out fishin' or drugged up?? You'll know where to find me.

That ain't nurse Ratched, BTW.

You took your time about it though

Soaps,SOAPS...........................Coronation Street, Emmerdale,Eastenders,Eldorado, Crossroads are/were soaps. You poll was about <deleted>.

Yes, Coro Street etc are indeed shitty soaps.Anybody caught watching them should be hung drawn and quartered for being a tool.

For the first time ever I have totally agreed with you Chuchok.